NDA considers universal basic income for all citizens

The government could be considering the idea of the state providing income support, or a universal basic income (UBI), to all citizens regardless of their employment status.

According to a Business Insider report, Professor Guy Standing, an economist who co-founded the Europe-based advocacy group Basic Income Earth Network, has said that the scheme will be outlined in the Economic Survey which will be presented in Parliament on January 31.

However, a person familiar with the matter said that while the Economic Survey would have a chapter on UBI, the scheme is unlikely to be implemented.

In September last year, CEA Arvind Subramanian had spoken of the UBI scheme “as an exciting idea” during an interaction with students in Bhubaneswar, according to an Economic Times report.

However, it appears that projects piloting UBI have been launched in India. Standing said that he was involved with two such schemes in Madhya Pradesh and another in Delhi, Live Mint reported while citing a Business Insider report.